Terry Collins' eyes were not exactly bugging. Nor was the top of his head about to pop like a champagne cork. No special effects were necessary. His choice of words, and decidedly PO'd demeanor, got the job done.

"I'll take all the sucking blame anyone wants to hand out," Collins said Wednesday night after the Mets stumble-bummed their way to a 9-3 loss to the Pirates. "Maybe I've got to make some adjustments and, by God, they'll be made."

In the sleep-inducing world of postgame press conferences, no adjustments were necessary.